Happy World Book and Copyright Day!

"Translation is the first step towards the rapprochement of peoples, and is also a decentralizing experience, teaching diversity and dialogue. Translation is one of the driving principles of our creative diversity, which enriches each language through contact with all the others."

Irina Bokova, Director General
Message for World Book and Copyright Day 2012

By celebrating this Day throughout the world, UNESCO seeks to promote reading, publishing and the protection of intellectual property through copyright. 

23 April is a symbolic date for world literature, since 23 April 1616 was the date of death of Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. 23 April is also the date of birth or death of other prominent authors such as Maurice Druon, K.Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo.

• Source: Unesco's World Book and Copyright Day

  
  

  So there's not much I want to add to that but I do want to finish this post with an English translation of a beautiful poem by Pablo Neruda. Neruda is one of my favourite poets and although it is much better to read poetry in its original language sometimes that's not possible. I thank all the translators who have made it possible for us to enjoy the works of so many different authors. They do an amazing job at translating the sometimes untranslatable.

  
  

  Taken from: Veinte poemas de amor y una canción desesperada (Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair)
  Translated by W.S. Merwin
  
  The poem read by Glen Close:
  
  
  
  Me gustas cuando callas
  by Pablo Neruda
  
  
  Me gustas cuando callas porque estás como ausente,
  y me oyes desde lejos, y mi voz no te toca.
  Parece que los ojos se te hubieran volado
  y parece que un beso te cerrara la boca.
  Como todas las cosas están llenas de mi alma
  emerges de las cosas, llena del alma mía.
  Mariposa de sueño, te pareces a mi alma,
  y te pareces a la palabra melancolía.
  Me gustas cuando callas y estás como distante.
  Y estás como quejándote, mariposa en arrullo.
  Y me oyes desde lejos, y mi voz no te alcanza:
  déjame que me calle con el silencio tuyo.
  Déjame que te hable también con tu silencio
  claro como una lámpara, simple como un anillo.
  Eres como la noche, callada y constelada.
  Tu silencio es de estrella, tan lejano y sencillo.
  Me gustas cuando callas porque estás como ausente.
  Distante y dolorosa como si hubieras muerto.
  Una palabra entonces, una sonrisa bastan.
  Y estoy alegre, alegre de que no sea cierto.
  
  
  English Translation
  
  
  I Like for You to be Still
  
  
  I like for you to be still: it as though you were absent,
  and you hear me from far away and my voice does not touch you
  It seems as though your eyes had flown away
  and it seems that a kiss had sealed your mouth.
  As all things are filled with my soul
  you emerge from the things, filled with my soul.
  You are like my soul, a butterfly of dream,
  and you are like the word Melancholy.
  I like for you to be still, and you seem far away.
  It sounds as though you were lamenting, a butterfly cooing like a dove
  And you hear me from far away, and my voice does not reach you:
  Let me come to be still in your silence.
  And let me talk to you with your silence
  that is bright as a lamp, simple as a ring.
  Your are like the night, with its stillness and constellations.
  Your silence is that of a star, as remote and candid.
  I like for you to be still: it is as though you were absent,
  distant and full of sorrow as though you had died.
  One word then, one smile, is enough.
  And I am happy, happy that it’s not true.